Reminiscing October

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” -L.M. Montgomery

This is one of my favorite quotes of all time. I love fall! Even though I have experienced twenty-seven autumns, the Creator’s display of majesty in the changing seasons still takes my breath away. The glittering golds, fiery oranges, and deep crimsons of fall capture me every year. My spirits are lifted when I take hikes, crunching the fallen leaves and breathing in the crisp autumn air. I pull out cozy sweaters and snuggle in with coffee and a good book. I watch my toddler pick up leaves with his wide eyes of wonder. Fall is beautiful.

This October has been one of the busiest falls I have experienced in a long time. My husband’s grandfather passed away, we photographed a wedding, I added more piano and flute students to my teaching schedule, and I started a new business endeavor as an independent consultant with Jamberry nails! Through this last month of October, God has been showing me some things I need to work on this winter:
~Be disciplined to get up early before my son wakes so that I can have true alone time with the Savior and the Word. I am happier, refreshed, and better able to take care of my family when I do this.
~Take time to get unplugged. With starting this new online business I’ve been amazed out just how easy it is to be on electronics all the time. I don’t want to miss out on the wonderful memories I could be making with my family. I’m going to work on carving out certain time limits for business so that I can still be available to others.
~Don’t forget to encourage others. I don’t know about you, but when life gets crazy busy it is a struggle to remember to think about others outside of my little family bubble. But when I make the effort to send an encouraging message, phone call, text to someone it is so wonderful! Encouraging others forces me to stop thinking about “me, my, mine” and helps me listen more carefully to the Spirit.
~Cultivate a heart of gratitude. This is hard when the budget is tight and I’m just so tired from life, but being thankful saves me from becoming bitter and hard. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR. I tell myself this frequently because it’s true! It’s easy to complain; it’s noble to give thanks. We have so much more than so many people in the rest of the world. Saying “thank you” out loud to God at different intervals in the day keeps me cheerful, humble, and less dramatic.

So I pledge to work on these disciplines in this lovely month of November. Thanks, for helping keep me accountable by reading my blog. I’m so grateful to be on this journey of life with you! May your November be filled with hope and joy. Sending cyber hugs your way today 🙂

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 143:8)

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

“The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” (Numbers 6:25)